By having sperm donation, egg donation and surrogacy available to those who can afford the services there is an argument forming by the Donor Conception industry that yes, it is a person's right to have children. When that view is taken the child's wants and needs are automatically placed as secondary to those of the parents.
Recently as I've been voicing my opinion about Donor Conception I've been getting asked well what do you think about adoption, it's another scenario where there are large sums of money being exchanged for a family to acquire a child. To me there is a HUGE difference between the two. That lays with the intention. When it comes to adoption there is a NEED for the child who is already in the world to be in a home. Whereas when utilizing donor conception technologies we are meeting the perspective parents WANT. In both cases the child will be split up from the biological family, but in the world of donor conception the split from the entire biological family is INTENTIONAL.
It should be a right to know where we come from and who our biological parents are. I more especially believe this when it comes to the donor conception world due to the fact that every adult involved is a willing participant. When you look at the states that do have any legislation towards surrogacy, no state has given the product being the created the right to know their origin. I believe that the intended parents a lot of time have fear that by allowing their child to have a relationship with a surrogate in particular what if the surrogate feels that the child is theirs and sues back for custody. (I do personally know of instances where women I know who have done traditionally surrogacies have regretted their decision and sued back for joint custody of their child.) Again to protect the intended parents I believe that's why there is nothing out their legislatively to abolish the anonymity of the donor conception.
I recently read on a surrogacy board, a surrogate said that she at times wondered how her surrogate child would feel about the financial transaction, but then she stops herself by acknowledging that the child wouldn't be here without the financial transaction that took place. To me that proves the point the the child conceived through donor conception is a commodity up for sale. How do we as a society determine at what point it is wrong for money to exchange hands for a child? If a surrogacy arrangement is made during the gestation of the child and papers are signed then it is considered human trafficking (at least by California's laws). However, if those same papers in California are signed before the sperm and egg meet then it's ok. As a product of donor conception to me it's irrelevant as to when the paperwork got signed, that part of the process no effect on me compared to other aspects of how the surrogacy arrangement was handled. If a child is already in this world and a parent doesn't want them it's illegal for them to sell their child but I'm sure that someone who wants a child would be willing to pay. I believe that it is still selling a human being as a product when there is money that exchanges hands. In Canada they have abolished all forms of payment when it comes to sperm and egg donation, and only allow altruistic donations. By answering yes, that it should be a right for anyone to be a parent, we further turn the child into a commodity.
This is a blog written about surrogacy, and other 3rd party donor issues such has egg donation, and sperm donation. It's written from the perspective of someone who is a product of surrogacy.
Quote from the "Son of a Surrogate" Blog
Quote from the "Son of a Surrogate" Blog
It looks to me like I was bought and sold. You can dress it up with as many pretty words as you want. You can wrap it up in a silk freaking scarf. You can pretend these are not your children. You can say it is a gift or you donated your egg to the IM. But the fact is that someone has contracted you to make a child, give up your parental rights and hand over your flesh and blood child. I dont care if you think I am not your child, what about what I think! Maybe I know I am your child.When you exchange something for money it is called a commodity.
It looks to me like I was bought and sold. You can dress it up with as many pretty words as you want. You can wrap it up in a silk freaking scarf. You can pretend these are not your children. You can say it is a gift or you donated your egg to the IM. But the fact is that someone has contracted you to make a child, give up your parental rights and hand over your flesh and blood child. I dont care if you think I am not your child, what about what I think! Maybe I know I am your child.When you exchange something for money it is called a commodity.
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Adopted persons feel much the same way you do. Our fate is decided by the adults in our lives. We do not want to be separated from our natural parents, and are not always happy to have been given up. Many infant adoptions are unnecessary. Adoption agencies make money by selling newborns, and they need a steady supply. Young vulnerable women are told that their newborns will be better off with a richer. more stable family. Many times that is not the case. Adoption does not offer a better life, just a different one.
ReplyDeleteWe were both products of a money driven system that treats people as commodities.
I completely agree with you. I think there are so many flaws with the adoption system. I don't mean to trivialize what adopted people go through because I know the trauma, and corruptness with that system is quite real. What I'm trying to point out to people considering using 3rd party donor conception is that we shouldn't intentionally create a class of people who we inflict this on. I believe that both our communities deserve to know who our biological parents are, anonymity should be taken out of the system of adoption. A right to our true medical records. I just visited your blog, and my heart goes out to you! I think it's so important for adoptees to voice their feelings to make some progress on adoptee's rights. Good luck in your journey
DeleteI think it's very easy for someone who is a parent to tell another person or couple who is physically unable to conceive a child that they don't have the right to become a parent.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you mean me in particular, but I'm not a parent. I'm saying this from the viewpoint of someone who was created via surrogacy.
DeleteI just went and visited your blog, and I do feel for your difficulties with infertility. Just as a counter thought, you mention this void in life due to lack of children. Many of us who are donor conceived have a void as well, our biological parents. I can't tell you how many discussions go on about DNA testing and which sites to use to have the best chance at finding either their biological parent or half siblings.
DeleteI commend all the volunteer work you do with children. Have you ever considered being a foster parent? A friend of mine has legally adopted two foster boys that she was housing. With all the good you do for children, I'm sure a child would be lucky to have you on their side.
Jessica,
DeleteI understand the perspective you are coming from. Please don't take my comments as dismissing you and your perspective. My infertility has nothing to do with your being donor conceived and vice versa.
While I appreciate your suggestion, please understand that my desire and the void left by my infertility is to become a parent not a legalized babysitter which is what Foster Parenting is.
Also, some advice when you are interacting with someone who is infertile where you are letting it be known you don't approve of third party reproduction never suggest an alternative such as Adoption or Legalized Babysitting. It's like someone suggesting to you that you should just be happy you're a live and should appreciate the family that you have. You can let your opinion be known but if asked what you would do if you were them a "I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes." response instead.
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ReplyDeleteEmail: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com
Urgent need Female for (egg donation) /(kidney donors) with the sum of $500,000.00,whatsapp +91 9945317569
Email: jainhospitalcare@gmail.com